Effects of a calcium phosphate cement on mineralized nodule formation compared with endodontic cements

The aim of this study was to investigate mineralizing ability of a premixed calcium phosphate cement (premixed-CPC) compared to mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) and zinc oxide eugenol cement (SuperEBA) in ROS17/2.8 cells. The measurements of cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALPase) activity and mineralized nodule formation in the presence or absence (control) of the test materials were performed using a cell culture insert method with the test materials placed on a porous membrane of culture plate insert. Mineralized nodules were detected by staining with alizarin red, and the calcium content of the mineralized nodules was determined quantitatively using a calcium assay kit. Premixed-CPC and MTA indicated significantly higher cell proliferation, ALPase activity, mineralized nodule formation, and calcium content in nodules than those of SuperEBA (p<0.05). The present results suggest that premixed-CPC has the same mineralizing ability as MTA.